Department for Education

The complainant requested details of external parties who had been consulted about specific sections of non-statutory government guidance on the development of Relationships, Sex and Health Education curricula. The Department for Education denied holding any information within the scope of the request. The Commissioner’s decision is that on the balance of probabilities, the DfE holds no information within the scope of the request. However, as the DfE failed to inform the complainant, within 20 working days, that it held no information within the scope of the request, the DfE breached section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner does not require further steps. First-tier tribunal (General Regulatory chamber) information rights appeal EA/2021/0316 appeal dismissed.